Milk heater and clarifier



' Sept. 14, V1926.

, Wdwmon).

l ATrORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1926.V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH EDWARD SMITIL OF FORTWAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO GEORGE C. DIERSTEIN, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

` MILK HEATER AND CLARIFIER.

l Application filed Tune 13,

This invention relates to improvements in milk heaters andclarifiers and the object thereof is to provide an apparatus for subjecting milk in large quantity to the action of heat and centrifugal force, and to construct the apparatus so that its several parts that have contact with the milk may be readily dismembered for cleansing purposes and reassembled.

These objects are accomplished by` the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing whichr is a vertical elevation showing a construction embodying the invention7 there being parts broken away and other portions in section. A I

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a revolving head 1 mounted iixedly upon a vertically disposed shaft 2 which is connected with a gearing 3 located in thebase 4 of ther machine. The upper part of the shaft 2 extends loosely through a bushing 5 in the upper end of which is a ball bearing 6 for the shaft` and the lower end of which is conical and fits in a block 7 the bore of which is tapered corresponding to the conical bushing. The block 7 is vertically movable in a stationary box 8, and an extension spring 9 in the box bears upwardly against the block so that the blocktends to center the conical bushing within its bor-e. When the head is rotated at high velocity it may assume its natural axis of rotation which@ is permitted as the block 7 yields to the pressure of the conical bushing and accommodates the lateral movements of the bushing that are occasioned by the swing of the revolving head to its natural axial center.

Upon the head 1 is removably mounted a cylindrical vessel 10, the wall of which tapers inwardly from the bottom to the top, and upon the top of the vessel is a removable head 11 to the underside of which is secured a drum 12 .which has a head 13 at its lower'- end with a perforated flange 14 that extends into agroove in the base 15 of the vessel 10, there being a space 16 between the head 13 of the drum and said base. Vertically disposed tubes 17 and 18 in concentric annular groups extend through the 1924. serian No. hers?. i

drum, thel ends of each tube extending through the heads'll and 13. y

Upon thetop of the head 11 is a cylindrical shell 19 upon the upper end of which is a removable cover 20, and within rsa-idl shell is an annular perforated baille 21, the lower edge of which extends intothetop of the head 11 between the two groups of tubes. Also vupon the top of the head 11 and surrounding the shell 19 is a jet ring 22 having discharge openings 23 therein that have communication with the chamber 24 within the vessel 10 and external of the drum. A splash ring 25 is positioned atthe juncture of the head 11 and thejet'ring. The head 11 has discharge openings 26 that extend from the chamber 27 within the drum 12 to the external perimeter of the head l1.

A tubular casing 28 extends through the head 11 in line with the axial center thereof and has a tapered lowerV end that projects into a perforated box 29jthat is fixed on the lower head 13 of the drum7 the casing Vbeingpositioned rigidly.l A nozzle 30 connected with a steam pipe *31, extends downwardly through the casing 28 to a point adjacent its lower end and is sustained centrally within the casing through its connection with the steam pipe.

Upon the machine frame 4 is a bracket 32 which supports an annular catch pan 3 3 that surrounds the vessel l10 with its inner lip 34 located below thedischarge openings 26 in the head 11. `Upon said pan is supported al second annular catch pan 35 thatr surrounds the jet ring with its inner lip 36 located below the discharge openings 23 therein and above the splash ring 25 that projects between the inner lips of the catch pans. Upon the uppermost catch pan is mounted a removable cover 37 which affords support for a funnel 38 which is located with its tubular discharge :end 39 extending through the cover 20, there being a central tube 40 extending through the funnel and surrounding the upper part of the casing 28 without contact therewith.y

In utilizing the invention the gearing is driven by a belt connection 41 with a suitable source of power such as a motor 42 so that the head is rotated at high velocity. Steam is admitted through the nozzle 30 and fills the chamber 27 wit in the drum sanss treated is supplied to the funnelv through which it is introduced into the shell 19. A

portion of the milk passes directly through f the series of tubes 17 into the lower end of the vessel 10, While another portion of the milk passes through the perfor-atedbaflle 21 and flows through the series of tubes 18. The milk flowing through all of the tubes Vis heatedfthrough the vaction ofthe steam in the drum and passes from the space at the bottom ofthe drum through the perforated flange into the Achamber 24 within the vessel andsurrounding the drum. @wing to centrifugal force the milk is thrown againstthe inner` face ofthe vessel and flows up to and out through the discharge openings 23 into the catch pan 35. As the lower portion of the vessel 10 is ofgreater diameter than the top, the heavy impurities and foreign matter contained in the milk are detained while the heated milk thus relieved of such matter passeson into the catch pan. The accumulated substances form a dense mat against the vertically inclinedk wall of the vesselv which matv is removed after separating the drum from the vessel to permit the interior of the apparatus to be cleansed.

What I claim is 1. ln apparatus of the class described, a rotatinO' member comprising a tapering cylindrical vessel, a drum extending into the vessel in axial alinement therewith and having two concentric series of vertical tubes extending therethrough; a shell having a cover at its top and encompassing the adj acent ends of said tubes; an annular perforated baftle in the shell with its lower end positioned between the two series of tubes; a jet ring having discharge openings therein communicating with the chamber of the vessel, there being another set of discharge openings for the chamber of saidl drum extending through "the' upper head thereof in a plane beneath the discharge openings of said. ring; stationary means for receiving separately the discharge from the vessel and the drumy through the corresponding discharge openings therefor; means for supplying steam to the drum chamber; means for supplying milk through the cover of the shell into the baffle; and a mechanism for actuating the revolving member. A

2. ln' apparatus'of the class described; a rotating member. including a tapering cy,- lindrical vessel and av drum axially alined therein, there being separate discharge openings for the` vessell and the drum the outlet ends of the discharge yopenings for the vessel being located; in al horizontal plane above those for the drum; vertical tubes extending y through thev drum; means for supplying milk to saidl vessel ythrough said tubes; means for supplying steam'to the'drum; stationary catch pans positioned"respectivelyto receive the discharge from the vessel and drum separately through the corresponding discharge openings therefor; and mechanism to actuatethe revolving member.

In apparatus of the class described, a rotating vessel; a drum axially alinedtherein, there being separate discharge openings for the vessel and the drum located in different horizontal planes; two concentric series of vertical tubes extending` through the drum; an annular perforated baille on the upper head of the drum separating the two series of tubes at their receiving ends; a shell encompassing the upper ends of the tubes and the baille; heating meansffor the drum ;.a milk supply means discharging into the baille; and means for receiving the discharge from the vessel andldrum separately.

ln testimony whereof I al'iX my signature.

JCSEPH EDVVABD SMITH. 

